Volunteer Interpreter (Dari/Pashto)

Are you passionate about helping people from Afghanistan feel welcome and supported in the UK? Do you have the language skills and cultural understanding to assist Afghan refugees as they navigate the challenges of building a new life? If you’re adaptable, resilient, and dedicated to making a difference, we’d love to hear from you!

About us

The Gulab Sorkh Foundation (GSF) is an independent charity supporting Afghan nationals resettled in the UK under the ARAP scheme. We are a small but impactful organisation, dedicated to helping those who worked closely with British forces in Afghanistan and their families integrate successfully into British life.

Job description

We are looking for one or two volunteer interpreters—one fluent in Dari and one fluent in Pashto or one fluent in both—to join our team at the Gulab Sorkh Foundation (GSF). You will play a key role in supporting Afghan refugees who have resettled in the UK, assisting them in accessing essential services and communicating effectively in their daily lives.

This is an influential volunteer opportunity where you will make a real difference by helping Afghan refugees integrate into British society, providing crucial interpretation during interactions with service providers and in trainings.

As a Volunteer Interpreter, you will:

·        Provide interpretation services (Dari or Pashto) to Afghan refugees, assisting them to understand key information related to housing, healthcare, education, and other public services.

·        Interpret at a variety of trainings.

·        Offer support and cultural understanding to ensure refugees feel comfortable and respected throughout their resettlement process.

Key responsibilities:

·        Interpret accurately and sensitively between Dari/Pashto and English during one-on-one and group interactions.

·        Collaborate with case managers and external partners to ensure the refugees’ needs are effectively communicated.

·        Be aware of and sensitive to the needs of individuals who may have experienced trauma and displacement.

·        Follow data protection laws and policies.

Essential skills:

·        Fluency (written and verbal) in Dari and/or Pashto and in English.

·        A high level of cultural sensitivity and empathy towards Afghan refugees.

·        Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information clearly and accurately.

·        Ability to remain neutral and impartial in all interactions.

·        Commitment to safeguarding vulnerable individuals and confidentiality.

·        Strong IT skills including Microsoft Teams, and the rest of the Microsoft Office suite.

Desirable:

·        Level 3 in Interpretation.

·        Previous experience working with refugees or vulnerable communities.

·        Knowledge of UK systems such as healthcare, housing, and immigration.

·        Understanding of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme.

·        Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Please note:

·        This is an unpaid voluntary position, offering flexibility to fit around your other commitments.

·        This is a completely remote role, and as such you will need to ensure that you have access to a confidential, quite space during your working hours.

·        As this role has contact with vulnerable groups, it is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and references.

The deadline for the role is midnight on 20/10/2024. Shortlisting will take place on w/o 21/10/2024. All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their applications by end of day 25/10/2024.

We actively encourage applications from individuals with lived experiences of migration or refugee resettlement.

We look forward to hearing from you.